Traveler Retains Two United Credit Cards for Annual Bonus

A travel rewards enthusiast continues to hold two United Airlines credit cards, the no-annual-fee United Gateway℠ Card and the $150 annual fee United Business Card, despite United not being their primary airline. This decision is driven by a specific annual benefit that outweighs the costs associated with maintaining both accounts. The traveler, who possesses a large number of credit cards, finds this particular combination offers significant value.

The strategy evolved from an initial use of the United℠ Explorer Card, which was later downgraded to the United Gateway Card to avoid an annual fee. The United Gateway Card is now used minimally, primarily for small purchases every six months to ensure the account remains active. The United Business Card was added later, revealing the synergistic benefit of holding both a personal and a business card from the same airline.

The core reason for retaining both cards is an annual bonus of 5,000 miles awarded to cardholders who possess both an eligible United personal card and an eligible United business card. This bonus is a key factor in the decision-making process each year when the annual fee for the United Business Card is due. Eligible personal cards that qualify for this bonus include the United Gateway Card, United Explorer Card, and United Quest℠ Card.